Today was a good day. It stated out with watching a couple of episodes of Orange is the New Black in bed. Relaxing and easing into the day.

About 9:30 I rolled out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, moisturized, brushed my hair, then threw on some clothes. Down the stairs I went. Had an apple and gathered my things to head out with my family to the beach.

Sunday is the rest of my families day to hang out with the guys and the kids. They’ve done soccer, ultimate frisbee and now they are on to beach volleyball. It’s a joy to watch them all gather, join teams and play for fun. All of the laughter and smiles on their faces makes me so happy inside. I truly enjoy watching them on Sundays.

After a bit of watching the guys, my friend, Laura, and I walked over to Armida’s tasting room for a little wine tasting. It’s always a treat, both the wine and the wonderful company.

After some wine tasting and great conversation, I made my short trek back home. I had some wonder food to prepare.

“The City Bathed In Orange” Original Untouched Photograph by Kathleen Shelfer

Last night I attended a Birthday party on the Zinfandel Yacht out of the Alameda Harbor. It was fantastic! I never even fathomed that we would be going under the Bay Bridge and having the most amazing views of The City.

It was 6:30 p.m. and the sun was going down. We all boarded the yacht. With it being such a hot day, we went immediately up to the top deck to cool off and find a seat. As the Birthday Boy boarded the boat, we headed back downstairs to say our hello’s and Happy Birthday. Big hugs too.

I don’t really want to get into then whole logistics of the party. What I really want to talk about is the views of The City. The memories it carries for me and how much I enjoyed remembering them last night.

As I watched the sunset over the Bay I realized what I was looking at. The Bay Bridge with The City in the background. I was in awe. Frozen to the amazing view. I found an open window and just stared.

I am still a little baffled at how to exactly explain how I was feeling. I was happy. Excited. Calm. Just to name a few. Even a little sad. I had memories flying through my head of the great times that I have had there.

San Francisco is the first City that I had fallen in love with. It’s as pure and simple as that. I am so happy that I was able to experience the views of The City at night from the Bay again. It had been too many years. The last time was with my friend, Taylor, one 4th of July when I was 27, or 28. What a night that was! Another story, for another day. 😉

This really stuck with me today. It can’t express how I feel any better. It also reminds me of what I need to do in my life. What I think about constantly, but don’t follow through with. That I need to just speak and not walk on eggshells. That I need to do more for myself and what makes me feel good.

I want to thank, Rachael, a friend on Facebook. One of the very few friends that I have on Facebook, that I have never actually met in person. I adore your drive for life. For peace. For health. For education. ♥

The Beach Parties in my area started last week. I missed it due to a music performance for my #4 Son. This week one of the most popular bands in the area will be playing. Regardless of who is playing, it is going to be a blast.

My friend is in town, but had to cancel due to a work dinner. No worries! I figured I would just take my four Boys with me and let loose, have some fun. No phones, just music, the sand on our feet and dance like no one is watching. Wishful thinking.

I mentioned it to each one of my Boys, individually, as they came home from school. “Mom, it’s just not my thing.” “I don’t want to go.” A nice roll of the eyes, purse of the mouth and no response at all. “Mom, I like to do other things with you like road trips, or go out to breakfast, lunch and dinner with you. Those are good things right?” “Do I have to?”

Actually, it all makes me kind of sad. As I told my oldest, “One day when your 40, you will have wished you went with me that one time to the Beach Party and made memories with your Mother.” I wasn’t trying to give guilt, just trying to let him know that life goes by quickly and sometimes it’s fun to do things for others, even though “it’s not your thing”.

I will get ready to go to the Beach Party, ask one more time, but I am not going to pressure anyone to spend time with me. Hopefully, by that time I will be over my hurt feelings and I will just go and have a good time. By myself.

My #2 Son is 13. In 8th grade they have to do 8 hours of community service. It’s due by January 16th. He’s been dragging his feet.

I feel like he needs to learn how to do things independently. Without a reminder from me. Obviously, he hasn’t been following up with his original contact person to put his plan in motion. Now it is the holidays and hard to reach who he needs to, to get the ball rolling.

Last night while at dinner, I told him that his day needed to start with having a date and time set up for his community service assignment. Until he did that, he isn’t going to be doing anything else. No computers, no surfing, etc.

He just came upstairs and said that he’s spent the last two hours trying to get in touch with his original contact. He has had no response.

I explained to him about the problem of waiting to do something until the last minute. Also, how the holidays can put you at a stand still. There are lessons that need to be learned from your actions, or when action and follow through just sits there waiting, because you have done nothing.

I suggested he call the local public libraries. See if they could use his help. He called. One is closed today and the other doesn’t open until noon. Again, the waiting game.

I told him that he needs to think of something that interest him and call them. He said the “teaching tech to seniors” is something that he is interested. He just isn’t getting a response from his email, or call. Again, I explained that waiting until last minute and especially during the holidays is going to be a hard lesson for him to learn. These types of thing just aren’t as assessable if you haven’t already set them up. Most people aren’t around and some businesses are closed.

Anyway, he is still waiting to receive returned phone calls and emails. I hope this lesson will be a good one for his future. 🙂

“Good morning! We’re going to go to the swimming hole today in the mountains” (talking to my youngest two while they are sitting on their computers in the office).

“Good Morning, Mom,” they both say.

“Wait, what are you talking about? You made us go to the Boardwalk yesterday. Why are you forcing us to do things that we don’t want to do? I don’t want to go anywhere.” Complains my #3 Son with an exasperated and stressed look on his face.

“You know, you can get as mad at me as you want. It’s summer. We are going to enjoy it and life while we can. You’re going to go and have some fun and get out of this office. I can just take your computer privileges away for the summer, then maybe you would lean that there is more to do than just sit in a room all day and play on your computer. So, be ready, we are leaving to be there by noon.” Then I left the room to make breakfast.

A few minutes later I walked into the office after my husband came in from outside and his conference call. “So, apparently I’m the bad guy, because I want to spend the day with the Boys at the river swimming at a swimming hole.” My husband just made a quirky face. He knows exactly what I’m talking about. They do it to me all the time.

Then, my #4 says, “A hole, why are we swimming in a hole?” While he is giggling and being silly.

As I’m in the kitchen making breakfast, my #3 came in and said he was sorry with a big hug. Not once, but twice. He is super, super sweet. I wasn’t even mad or upset. It’s nice that he doesn’t want me feeling that way though. I’m thankful that he can say he is sorry. I told him that we were going to have a great day.

I truly love my Boys. Now off to wake up the older two and go through the same conversation with them. Hahaha! 🙂